The Meaning of Isaiah 65:5 Explained

Isaiah 65:5

KJV: Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.

YLT: Who are saying, 'Keep to thyself, come not nigh to me, For I have declared thee unholy.' These are a smoke in Mine anger, A fire burning all the day.

Darby: who say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.

ASV: that say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me, for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Which say,  Stand  by thyself, come not near  to me; for I am holier  than thou. These [are] a smoke  in my nose,  a fire  that burneth  all the day. 

What does Isaiah 65:5 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The Israelites" assumption of spiritual superiority over others disgusted the Lord (cf. Matthew 23). Rather than being a pleasing aroma in His nostrils, the smoke of their offerings repulsed Him. Their ceaseless sacrifices were a needless burning instead of pleasing acts of worship.
In this whole pericope, Isaiah was speaking in the Lord"s behalf about the Israelites who felt that their rituals of worship should have resulted in God"s blessing, or at least His responding to them when they prayed. They failed to appreciate that God dictates how people should worship Him because He is God. They felt that because they worshipped Him on their terms, He should respond as they demanded, even though they worshipped Him in unacceptable ways.

Context Summary

Isaiah 65:1-12 - A Seed Rescued From Destruction
The prophet now enumerates the reasons that forced the Lord to turn aside from the Chosen People, and call in the Gentiles to occupy the place and perform the mission which they had despised and forfeited. Paul makes memorable reference to this passage. See Romans 10:20-21. Their gardens were scenes of debauchery; their altars were covered by polluting engravings; they practiced necromancy in the graveyards, and ate swine's flesh, Isaiah 65:3-4. Fortune and destiny were their chosen deities, Isaiah 65:11, r.v. While professing greater holiness than others, the land was filled with abominations.
But the Lord ever discriminates between the righteous and the wicked. Did He not spare Noah and Lot and Caleb? There has always been a faithful remnant, and these become the seed germs of a new nation. Ponder Isaiah 65:8-10. Then ask that your life may be like the new young grapes of the vineyard, on which the blessing of God rests! [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 65

1  The calling of the Gentiles,
2  and the rejection of the Jews, for their incredulity, idolatry, and hypocrisy
8  A remnant shall be saved
11  Judgments on the wicked, and blessings on the godly
17  The blessed state of the new Jerusalem

What do the individual words in Isaiah 65:5 mean?

who say Keep to yourself not do come near me for I am holier than you these [are] smoke in My nostrils a fire that burns all the day
הָאֹֽמְרִים֙ קְרַ֣ב אֵלֶ֔יךָ אַל־ תִּגַּשׁ־ בִּ֖י כִּ֣י קְדַשְׁתִּ֑יךָ אֵ֚לֶּה עָשָׁ֣ן בְּאַפִּ֔י אֵ֥שׁ יֹקֶ֖דֶת כָּל־ הַיּֽוֹם

הָאֹֽמְרִים֙  who  say 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
קְרַ֣ב  Keep 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: קָרַב  
Sense: to come near, approach, enter into, draw near.
אֵלֶ֔יךָ  to  yourself 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
תִּגַּשׁ־  do  come  near 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: נָגַשׁ  
Sense: to draw near, approach.
בִּ֖י  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
קְדַשְׁתִּ֑יךָ  I  am  holier  than  you 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular, second person masculine singular
Root: קָדַשׁ  
Sense: to consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be holy, be sanctified, be separate.
אֵ֚לֶּה  these  [are] 
Parse: Pronoun, common plural
Root: אֵהֶל 
Sense: these.
עָשָׁ֣ן  smoke 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עָשָׁן  
Sense: smoke.
בְּאַפִּ֔י  in  My  nostrils 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: אַף 
Sense: nostril, nose, face.
אֵ֥שׁ  a  fire 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: אֵשׁ  
Sense: fire.
יֹקֶ֖דֶת  that  burns 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, feminine singular
Root: יָקַד 
Sense: to burn, kindle, be kindled.
הַיּֽוֹם  the  day 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.